Lots of Breathing Space

“Breathing space is the keyword for the design of this home,” shares Jimmy. “The negative spaces inside the house give the eyes a resting place and make the furniture stand out.”

Pale wood laminate clad the wall concealing the bathroom door, visually tying the space with the bookshelves.

The large-format rectangular floor tile adds to the formality of space while a full height, 2.9m tall bookshelf fitted with a sliding steel staircase breaks the symmetry of the space, taking centre stage and serving as a functional alternative to a feature wall.

Hidden Bathroom Door

The wall clad in timber laminate hides the door to the bathroom.

The transitions between areas – from the living-dining and kitchen to the balcony, bedrooms and bathrooms – are kept as seamless as possible with hardly any differences in the elevations to make all rooms accessible to wheelchair users.

Doors and railings in the bathrooms are installed within reach from a sitting position. The finishes were also curated to be low-maintenance in consideration of the family’s youngest member, Bruce, a friendly Singapore Special dog.

Mix of Old & New Furniture

The furniture is a mix of old, new and new old.

Modular sofa from Originals Furniture presides over the living area, the dining chairs from Danish Design Co, the Mantis lamp on the wall and the Louis Poulsen pendant light above the dining table are new.

The dining table was the first dining table the owners bought, which has been restored and polished by Barossa Furnishings.

Storeroom became Walk-in Wardrobe

The storeroom has been converted into a walk-in wardrobe and dressing room for the daughters, freeing the space in their bedrooms, which retain their original hardwood parquet flooring, furniture made with salvaged timber from local upcycling workshop Triple Eyelid Studio.

The elder daughter’s bedroom, dressed in greige, features a travel theme, while the younger daughter’s room sports teal walls and under bed storage for sports equipment.

Master Bedroom

The master bedroom is finished with the parents’ favourite colour, mint green, and features a teepee for Bruce. “Our parents went from ‘he’s not allowed on the sofa’ to ‘let him sleep in our room’ with Bruce,” shares the younger daughter.

Meanwhile, the common bathroom features a more cheerful deeper green tile with white grouting that lends a graphic touch.

Study Corner

The study corner in the younger daughter’s room pairs teal walls and warm timber furniture. The carpentry includes a pull-out ledge that the eldest daughter uses as standing work desk.

3 Month Renovation: Cost $100,000

The three-month renovation cost the family around $100,000. Jimmy and the daughters perfected the user-friendly details and invested in durable materials, finishes, and fixtures that enhance the spatial experience.

All the windows are double-glazed and soundproofed. Opening them at night eliminates the need for air conditioning, while closing them creates a quiet environment for working from home.

The curtains are high-quality linen that look and feel good to the eye and touch.

It’s an understated, thoughtfully articulated makeover that has resulted in a gentle, breathable and future-proof home.

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This article was first published in December 2021.